Greetings, 

Programme Director, 

United Nations Outgoing Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Mrs Nardos Bekele-Thomas 

Secretariat of the National Planning Commission 

Government officials and all media houses represented, 

It is with great pleasure to have you all on this great occasion of signing the cooperation framework between the Government of South Africa and the United Nations. 

Today’s occasion signifies yet another milestone of the great partnership between the two institutions. Not for the benefit of any, but for the betterment of the lives of South Africans. As Government, we are grateful for the support we have received from the UN agencies throughout the years. 

The framework we are signing today enhances our cooperation and commitment of the United Nations in continuing to support South Africa’s developmental agenda. It is also a way to show the realisation of the call made by member States after adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, that the United Nations (UN) Development System needs to reform in order to achieve the sustainable development agenda. 

The call was to reposition the UN with a stronger focus on a better-defined collective identity as a trusted, reliable, cohesive, accountable and effective partner to countries in delivering the 2030 Agenda. 

The guiding principles of the reform included the following: 

 Reinforcing national ownership and leadership; 

 A whole of society approach based on partnerships to deliver on the Agenda; 

 Ensuring country-contextual responses, rather than a “one size fits all” approach; 

 Making country-level delivery for all the litmus tests for success; 

 Delivering coherently through strengthened and accountable leadership; and 

 Strengthening accountability to guide the United Nations development system’s support for implementing the 2030 Agenda. 

The United Nations Strategic Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2020-2025 is a vital instrument to drive the principles of the UN reform at a national level. It is also a partnership and accountability framework not just with government but with the broader society. 

The framework development was through rigorous consultative process with various stakeholders from government, private sector, labour and civil society organisations. 

What gives me more comfort is that the framework end product is aligned with the country´s long-term National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019-2024. 

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to highlight what the framework is all about. There are four broad pillars and strategic-level priority areas of cooperation for the SA-UN partnership. These are as follows: 

a) Inclusive, just and sustainable economic growth. 

b) Human capital and social transformation. 

c) Effective, efficient and transformative governance. 

d) Climate resilience and sustainably managed natural resources. 

These strategic priority areas are interlinked, reflecting the integrated nature of the 2030 Agenda, with progress under each strategic priority area requiring and contributing to the progress of the other priority areas. Please also note that the identified four pillars and strategic priorities of the UNSDCF are high-level and are possible areas of support by the UN that will drive the policy mandate that guides the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) programmes, funds and agencies work, and partnerships at national and provincial levels for the period 2020-2025, towards the achievement of the SDGs at country level. 

The implementation of the framework will be through Joint Work Plans (JWPs) agreed with government ministries and agencies and executed with a range of implementing partners. The Ministerial Steering Committee for implementing the UNSDCF will be done through the Cabinet approved Inter-Ministerial Committee for the national coordination of sustainable development agendas. 

This is ours. Let us all work together to realise the envisaged development for South Africa. 

Let the work begin. It ain’t done until its done. 

I Thank You